Interview with Emilie Wiggins

Files


  • Identifier1987 OH 025
  • Date1/5/1987
  • InterviewerEllis, William E.
  • IntervieweeWiggins, Emilie
  • DescriptionThis is an unrehearsed taped interview with Emilie Wiggins, Alumna, a 1938 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and a native of Richmond, Kentucky. Mrs. Wiggins has worked many years in the National Library of Medicine and is now retired after thirty years.
  • LocationWashinton, D.C.
  • Duration:55:58
  • Time Summary00:00 - 01:10 Introduction.
    01:10 - 02:20 Emilie Wiggins born in 1917 and a 1938 graduate of Eastern. Parents were Elsie and Ernest Wiggins. Father worked for Richmond Daily Register as Advertising Manager for many years. Later set up his own plant.
    02:20 - 02:50 Miss. Wiggins went to Teachers Training School in Richmond. First grade through college.
    02:50 - 06:00 Talked about growing up in Richmond. Population 7,000 at that time. Mae Hanson was her first grade teacher, later taught in college. Had good French teacher.
    08:00 - 09:50 Talked about teaching in Lynch, Kentucky for two years then went to Cincinnati to work on her Masters.
    09:50 - 10:00 Discussed the book "The More Things Change" she is now writing, half fictional and half history approach.
    10:00 - 12:00 Goes back to subject of educational background. Went into Library work. Graduated from University of Michigan, Library School. She then went to Washington, worked at the National Library of Medicine for thirty years. Retired in 1977.
    12:00 - 14:00 Discussed her job as head of the Cataloguing Division which is primarily a Research Library in the National Library of Medicine also the largest Medical Library in the world.
    14:00 - 17:00 Worked with NYA while at Eastern.
    17:00 - 20:00 Discussed her years at Eastern also Depression years.
    20:00 - 24:00 Reminiscences of classmates and faculty while at Eastern.
    24:00 - 30:00 Tells humorous stories of Turkey Hughs and other faculty members.
    30:00 - 36:00 Mentions John Ed McConnell and Mary Ann Collins.
    36:00 - 40:00 Continues talking about classmates also mentions "Carr Creek Boys" basketball team.
    40:00 - 44:00 Discussed entertainment and buildings on campus.
    44:00 - 48:00 Discussed growing up in Richmond, Ky., and the "safe" feeling she always had while living there.
  • Restrictionsnone
  • RightsContact Special Collections and Archives, Crabbe Library, Eastern Kentucky University for reproductions, rights and permission to publish.


Citation

“Interview with Emilie Wiggins,” William H. Berge Oral History Center, accessed October 13, 2024, https://oralhistory.eku.edu/items/show/93.